HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-2014 th wingerMAR 18 2014
Goodwin, Heather
From: Marx, Jan
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 2:00 PM
To: 'Carol'; Smith, Kathy; Christianson, Carlyn; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John
Cc: Mejia, Anthony; Goodwin, Heather
Subject: RE: Cal Poly Student Housing Project South
Thank you for your comments, Mr. Winger. I am including our city clerk staff in this response, so your
comments will be posted on our website as agenda correspondence.
All the Best,
Jan AGENDA
CORRESPONDENCE
From: Carol [mailto:dcwinger @charter.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 1:37 PM Date J L6% Item #-114--
To: Marx, Jan; Smith, Kathy; Christianson, Carlyn; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John
Subject: Cal Poly Student Housing Project South
Dear Mayor Marx, Council members Ashbaugh, Carpenter, Christianson, and Smith
I am a 51 year resident of San Luis Obispo and have lived at 2041 Hays Street for 49 years of that period. I am unable to
attend the City town hall meeting on Tuesday March 25, 2014 because of a previously scheduled out of state trip,
otherwise I would be presenting my comments in person. You are well aware of the problems for the permanent residents
of the Cal Poly neighborhoods relating to student activities (parties, noise, etc.) that have developed over the
years. These residents were shocked last summer to learn of Cal Poly's intention to build a large dormitory complex near
the Slack /Grand intersection as this was never presented as a building site in the Cal Poly Master Plan. Extensive work
was done relating to this project with minimal or no consultation with area residents or city officials. We do not see
building up to five story structures housing over 1400 freshman across the street from a SLO R -1 neighborhood as
anything but fraught with problems for us and the city.
There are many issues that should concern the city relating to the draft EIR for this project, however, I will only highlight
one in this note. I have traveled the Grand /Slack intersection as a motorist, bicyclist and pedestrian nearly every day for
50 years and feel qualified to comment on the traffic issues there. Let me simply list a few issues:
• This is a 4 way stop, however, motor traffic frequently treat this as a hesitation stop on Grand Avenue. It is
particularly dangerous for motorists coming on Slack from the east as this traffic seems to be ignored by the
Grand Avenue traffic.
• Bicycle traffic coming out of Cal Poly routinely does not stop on this downhill section and frequently the bicycle
traffic is on the wrong side of Grand.
• Reopening of Original Pacheco grade school at Grand /Slack will add more congestion and was not addressed in
the draft EIR.
• The draft EIR considered the effect of the project on some intersections that have little to do with the location of
this project. An example being Olive and Santa Rosa and the 101 Northbound /California Street exit. What about
the Grand Av /Slack Street intersection and the 101 exits for Grand Avenue and Monterey Street?
• The Cal Poly dorm plan suggest that the freshman housed in the proposed project will have very few cars, this is
simply an assumption and may not hold true for the future. As far as I know there is no restriction on freshmen
bringing cars to campus. Even if a student doesn't have a car, they cannot be confined to campus and will either
use bikes or get picked up by friends with cars for off campus excursions. To assume that there will be no
significant traffic issues for the city seems unrealistic.
All in all it appears that Cal Poly is determined to force this project through on a site that was never designated as a build
site as it may be the expedient thing to do in terms of time and money. This is to the detriment of the city residents nearby
as well as the city in general. I would ask that the city council take some appropriate action to help its residents. I have
been made aware of some other California cities who have done so in somewhat similar situations. Thank you for your
attention and hopefully your support on this matter.
Donley Winger
2041 Hays Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405